Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens with Built In Motor for Nikon Digital SLR

by Tamron

• Built in motor for use on the new Nikon Cameras
• Includes lens hood, 67mm filter size
• 2.9 inches in diameter and 3.2 inches long

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00156OZ68
• Item model number: AF016NII-700
• Batteries 1 Lithium ion batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (332 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 1, 2008

Product Description

Style: Nikon

The SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 is a lightweight, compact, fast standard zoom lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras, expanding the product concept of the popular SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 zoom lens. In addition, portrait shots are made beautiful with the natural out-of-focus effect characteristic provided by the fast F/2.8 aperture. Additionally, a broader photographic expression through the use of faster shutter speeds as a result of the maximum aperture offers enhanced photographic pleasure. The lens boasts one of the best close-up shooting performances in the class of fast standard zoom lenses designed exclusively for digital cameras and featuring an F/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the entire zoom range, to ensure stress-free photographic shots at all focal lengths and distances.

Extraordinary detail at the macro level

AF17-50mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di II Highlights

Di II
Lenses are designed for exclusive use on digital cameras with smaller-size imagers and inherit all of the benefits of our Di products. These lenses are not designed for conventional cameras and digital cameras with image sensors larger than 24mm x 16mm.

Extra Refractive Index Glass (XR)
Extra Refractive Index (XR) glass can bend light rays at steeper angles, thereby decreasing the physical length of the lens while enhancing imaging performance by minimizing optical aberrations. This has allowed Tamron to develop a line of shorter, smaller-diameter, lighter lenses without sacrificing lens speed, and actually upgrading image quality compared to older designs. XR glass is costlier than conventional glass but it yields enhanced optical power distribution, making possible many of the outstanding and innovative lens designs that bear the XR designation. XR glass, with its superior light-bending power, makes it possible to design a short-barrel lens with the same light-gathering ability (aperture value) as a long-barrel lens—even with a smaller lens diameter. By using this principle Tamron has been able to shorten the length of the entire optical system and produce lighter, more compact lenses of the same speed, and also to provide greater zoom ranges in lenses that are much more convenient to carry by hand.

Special glass for better performance and more compact lens designs

Low Dispersion (LD)
Low dispersion (LD) glass elements in a lens help reduce chromatic aberration; the tendency of light of different colors to come to different points of focus at the image plane. Chromatic aberration reduces the sharpness of an image, but glass with an extremely lowdispersion index, has less of a tendency to separate (defract) a ray of light into a rainbow of colors. This characteristic allows the lens designer to effectively compensate for chromatic aberration at the center of the field (on axis), a particular problem at long focal lengths (the telephoto end of the zoom range), and for lateral chromatic aberration (towards the edges of the field) that often occurs at short focal lengths (the wide-angle end of the zoom range.)

Low Dispersion (LD) Glass for Greater Lens Sharpness

Super Performance (SP) for Discriminating Shooters
Tamron SP (Super Performance) series is a line of ultra-high-performance lenses designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality. In creating SP lenses Tamron’s optical designers put their foremost priority on achieving superior performance parameters—they are all designed to a higher standard with little regard for cost constraints. As a result, Tamron lenses bearing the SP designation feature impressive and innovative designs that have established an enviable reputation for excellence among those knowledgeable photographers that demand the very best.

Zoom Lock (ZL)
Another original Tamron mechanical engineering concept is the Zoom Lock (ZL), a simple convenience feature that prevents undesired extension of the lens barrel when carrying the camera/lens unit on a neck strap.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

194 of 198 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Talk about bang for your buck! October 8, 2006

By Tristan C.

Style Name:Canon|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the kind of lens that makes me wish Canon would understand their market better. Instead of putting out a 17-55mm zoom that everyone can afford, they put out a EF-S non pro lens at a pro price, which has serious quality control issues. Tamron, however, responded.

This lens is quite sharp. It could definately be used for professional purposes. Sharp at 2.8 and much sharper above. After using this lens, the 17-40mm L, as well as the new EF-S 17-55mm, I can honestly say that Tamron beat out Canon in their own game in terms of quality for the money. Great optics, great range, affordable, and a SIX YEAR warranty, as opposed to Canon's weak 1 year warranty. Buy me.

258 of 276 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best wide angle zoom lens. July 19, 2006

By Linan Chen

Style Name:Canon

I tested canon 28-105 3.5-4.5, sigma 24-70 2.8, canon 50mm 1.8, canon 18-55 3.5-5.6. I would say this Tamron 17-50 2.8 is my dream lens. I bought canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 for the focal range but was very sad about its softness and returned it. Then I went to sigma. That's a huge, heavy lens and very solid. Based on reviews, it should be very sharp. however, it was not true in my case. No matter how hard I tried, I never got sharp image. I guess I was not lucky enough to have a good copy and returned it in one week. Finally I bought Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. It surprised me from the very first picture. The sharpness is as good as canon 50mm 1.8 prime, the benchmark. Contrast is very good and color too. 7 blade aperture makes very nice blur background. I care so much about sharpness so the lens is my taste. The focusing is very accurate and fast enough, even though not as fast as sigma. Now I never touch canon 18-55 kit lens, the difference is huge. It's true this lens has no IS. But for 17-50mm range, IS is not as useful as for tele lens. The price is excellent considering the top optical quanlity. Now I am feeling I am a pro. :)))

The reasons I choose this lens are:

1. widest angle in the class(most important thing for 1.6X cropping factor sensor camera
2. Very sharp and top quanlity glass
3. light weighted and small and easy to carry
4. 7-blade aperture makes nice background(if you own canon 50mm 1.8 II, you will see its 5-blade aperture makes harsh background)
5. big constant 2.8 aperture through the whole range
6. excellent price

135 of 147 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars How does it rate? More importantly how does it rank? July 8, 2006

By Abdulrahman Aljabri

Style Name:Canon

Update: I really think this lens is a godsend to the enthusiast, it performs well and is very light and compact. Carrying this lens for hours compared to the more professional and better built, but heavier, Canon Lenses makes it worthwhile to use especially if you consider the saving you get with this lens.

This lens is probably the most interesting among all the wide angel lenses available to Canon crop DSLR users. It offers the best of everything except for a couple of things here and there. Best of all it's price beats all other lenses in that range. But before I start comparing it to other options here is a basic rating of this lens.

RATING: The lens is well built and surprisingly light and compact. It doesn't have the solid L feel but still has a firm feeling that inspires confidence while shooting. Sharpness is at par with other top quality zooms, so much so that at F8.0 and above it matches many primes. Distortion like chromatic aberration and vignetting are about average. Meaning you would probably have to stop the lens down to 5.6-8.0 to eliminate distortions. Focus is quick and right on though a little noisy. Overall, a very good lens.

RANKING: With all of the above in perspective how does it rank? Compared to Canon's 17-40L 4.0 I think the Tamron come on top. Here is a breakdown of the Tamron strenghts and weaknesses compared to the Canon 17-40L.

Strengths
1. Faster lens (2.8 vs 4.0). That can make the difference between taking the shot or missing in a low light situation.
2. It has a wider zoom range (10mm at the telephoto end).

Weaknesses
1. Flare and chromatic aberration control lags behind the 17-40L.
2. solid build but not as solid as the tank-like 17-40L. Some may find that slightly objectionable after using any L lens for many years.